Nyachae: I Resigned from EACJ Over $2,000 ‘Unfair’ Salary

Charles Nyachae, appearing before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel today, revealed that he stepped down as a judge of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) due to dysfunction and financial challenges within the East African Community (EAC).

Speaking at the College of Insurance in Nairobi’s South C estate, Nyachae explained that he resigned in January 2024, two years before completing his seven-year term. Appointed in February 2018, he served for five and a half years but felt the court’s limited operations rendered his role ineffectual.

“The court operates on an ad hoc basis, and the EAC has been grappling with financial constraints. I was earning $2,000 monthly for doing virtually nothing. It didn’t feel fair to the East African Community,” Nyachae stated.

He added, “After careful thought, I reached out to the appointing authority, the president, and communicated that the situation was untenable.”

Nyachae, a former chair of the Constitutional Implementation Committee, was nominated to the regional court by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta after an unsuccessful bid for the Kisii Senate seat. Upon returning to Kenya, he took up the role of chairperson of the Kenya School of Government council, a position he said he would relinquish if selected as IEBC chairperson.

The IEBC selection panel, chaired by Nelson Makanda, is currently interviewing candidates for the chairperson role. Interviews for six vacant commissioner positions are set to begin on March 28 and will continue until April 24, with 105 candidates, including 32 women, shortlisted.

Nyachae emphasized his commitment to restoring confidence in the electoral body if appointed.